‘A States-owned venue should never be used to amplify voices that promote hate’

I am writing to express my serious objection to the decision to allow Katie Hopkins to perform at Beau Sejour. This is not a complaint about her coming to Guernsey, she is free to appear in any private venue that chooses to host her. My objection is specifically and solely about her being permitted to use a States-owned, States-run public building, which gives the appearance of government endorsement of an individual whose public statements are widely regarded as racist, xenophobic, homophobic, Islamophobic, and deeply divisive.

This decision raises profound concerns about the values our government claims to uphold.

Only on 20 November, local news reported more than 70 suspensions for racist abuse in our schools, 67 in secondary schools and four in primary. This is a deeply troubling rise, demonstrating clearly that racism and prejudice are already harming young people in our community. At a time when schools, agencies, and the wider community are working hard to address these issues, the States allowing a figure known internationally for inflammatory, hateful rhetoric to perform in a government building is not just tone-deaf, it is irresponsible.

Katie Hopkins’ history of statements speaks for itself.

These are not isolated comments, nor jokes ‘taken the wrong way’. This is a long-running pattern of hateful public messaging.

My concern is not about my personal attendance. I would not attend her show in any venue. My concern is that our government is choosing to make one of its own buildings available to someone who actively promotes prejudice, and in doing so, is signalling that revenue is being prioritised over values, community safety, and the principle of inclusion.

While I fully recognise that the States cannot control the decisions of private venues, Beau Sejour is not a private venue. It is a public facility, funded by taxpayers, representing the government and the community. Allowing her to perform there is not a neutral administrative decision, it is a statement, intentional or not, that the government is willing to platform someone whose views directly undermine the dignity and safety of minority groups in Guernsey.

This is unacceptable. A States-owned venue should never be used to amplify voices that promote hate.

I therefore urge you to immediately reconsider and reverse this booking. Doing otherwise risks severe reputational harm to the States and sends an entirely wrong message at a time when our island is already struggling with rising incidents of hate-based behaviour.

Name and address supplied

Sam Herridge, head of Recreation Services, responds:

Beau Sejour is a venue hired by a wide range of performers and acts. The Centre does not selectively choose which acts can and cannot hire its facilities as it is not for the Centre to selectively censor individuals. Rather, it is for the public to vote with their feet by either booking, or not booking, tickets depending on their view on any one act.

Hiring of the venue by any individual or group is not, and should not be interpreted as, an endorsement from Beau Sejour. Hirers meet all venue operating costs directly related to their performances.